amenditman Posted August 15, 2014 Share Posted August 15, 2014 Eric- It is a peeve of mine also, and a fear...I cannot see a good long term affect for us humans, we are not utilizing our doers, and the fully capable techs are well,frankly . we are getting older. It is not just in computers...Naval shipyards are having a heck of a time replacing an aging capable workforce...anyway...... Bambi-Yeah, still kicking about..just busy I am having the same problem. I was injured in Nov. 2010 and unable to continue doing the active, physically demanding work I loved doing. I have tried to find qualified help to be my physical replacement - no good. I have tried using promising youngsters who I could closely supervise and train - good luck. When our generation is gone, it will not be the American children of today who carry on for us. I have found some recent immigrants who show promise of being good, long-term replacements. But they are in high demand. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hedon James Posted August 15, 2014 Share Posted August 15, 2014 Very good reply Hedon Thanks Breach, I appreciate the comments, but I think I sound overly cynical. Then I re-read my comments and can't help but think I'm dead on; if anything, I've varnished my comments a little, trying to give them the benefit of the doubt. I honestly believe their generation is in trouble, due to their lack of problem-solving skills. I remember being in sales 20 or so years ago; wanting to be GOOD at that, I learned that the most successful salesmen found a problem that only they could solve, then solved it! The morally-challenged "created" a problem only they could solve, then solved it. The problem, as I see it, is that today's generation can't solve problems. Therefore, they're always at the mercy of someone else's solution. And since they can't solve problems, they also can't tell the difference between a good solution or a solution with an agenda. Therefore, they also can't distinguish between a benefactor and the morally challenged. And they don't WANT to know. It's like that scene in Billy Madison where the hot teacher is tutoring Billy and removes an article of clothing for each correct answer, but puts something back on for each incorrect answer. After several correct answers, Billy almost has her naked, but is distracted by the prospect of his reward for the next correct answer and promptly flubs it. Teacher shakes her head and puts something back on. Billy panics at the lost opportunity and starts guessing wildly, as teacher continues re-dressing; at which point Billy yells in frustration "JUST GIVE ME THE D*** ANSWER!!!!" And that, in a microcosm, is our Millenial Children of the next generation. Something has got to give, and I'm not sure I want to be around to see that...but I probably will... (sigh) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LilBambi Posted August 15, 2014 Share Posted August 15, 2014 I have met a few like that, but I can't buy that that's everyone. I have met many gifted people in the younger generation. You know the old saying about never and always... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raymac46 Posted August 15, 2014 Author Share Posted August 15, 2014 (edited) Two interesting discussions going on here in one topic. Don't know which to tackle first so I'll do two posts. As far as as HJ's comments go I largely agree with him. I'm not advocating that kids today ignore the concept of (say) logarithms. They are too important as math functions and in science for that. They have to learn about them. Whether you do that practically by a cookbook method like log tables or by pushing the button on a scientific calculator is less important to me. Obviously if the batteries die in the calculator the old paper and pencil method works. So does a slide rule to "3 figure" accuracy. There is a difference between learning about logs as math functions, and using them to avoid long division. In first year university there were a lot of kids who could use a log table, but couldn't stretch that knowledge to do pH calculations. The Internet can be a source of wonderful information or total dross and critical thinking is required to separate the two. How you develop that would take a lot longer post than this one would be, but I agree it is essential. Edited August 15, 2014 by raymac46 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raymac46 Posted August 15, 2014 Author Share Posted August 15, 2014 I'm going through the old replace/repair syndrome right now with my 9 year old refrigerator. It's still running but making some weird buzzing noises. It's a simple enough job to replace the starter relay on the compressor (can't repair it - it's a sold state block.) If that doesn't work it means the compressor itself may be failing. At this point repair is almost the price of a new fridge so away to the recycler it goes I guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarryB Posted August 15, 2014 Share Posted August 15, 2014 LOL...I think for me it was being raised poor....so repairman /replacement wasnt really an option. Even my early Navy days money was still tight, so fixing a problem (and doing it only once) meant more other things for my family. From that, I guess the more I found out what I could do the more I would try. The good news is still run into kids that operate that way, so I do have some hope. Like Eric- My problem is that we have exported our technical base...I think if we got that back...even at todays labor rates..we would still be better off 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V.T. Eric Layton Posted August 15, 2014 Share Posted August 15, 2014 I think for me it was being raised poor....so repairman /replacement wasnt really an option. Definitely the roots of my fix it fixation. When I was growing up (not in poverty, but with limited means), my dad was a master fixer. I learned a lot from him in that regard. My uncles were the same way. My mother's brother Aaron must have been one of those traveling tinkers in another life. This guy could fix anything. Like most fixers, myself included, he was even a very talented custom tool/jig/kludge maker. Necessity is the mother of invention; ofttimes, boredom is, also. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capt.Crow Posted August 15, 2014 Share Posted August 15, 2014 As a general rule I must confess That fixing things Is really cool . 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amenditman Posted August 15, 2014 Share Posted August 15, 2014 (edited) This guy could fix anything. Like most fixers, myself included, he was even a very talented custom tool/jig/kludge maker. Growing up we fixed everything. We made many tools/jigs to fix things. Dad made more than an adequate salary as an Engineer and manager. But we had a family of 7. We could have some of the things we wanted, just not everything. And what we had we took care of properly and repaired as needed because we sure as heck weren't getting another one if we broke it thru carelessness/neglect. When we moved to FL in 1972 Dad used a door hinge to secure the sliding glass doors because he thought they were a security gap. They now sell those things, acrylic hinge to secure sliding doors. If only he had been a patent oriented guy. In 1964 he bought a screwdriver with those long interchangeable bits, inserted them into his high speed drill chuck to drive screws when building large projects. Dang, there go our millions of $. The list of things he/we created out of necessity/need/convenience that are now readily made and available at retail is fairly long. Oh well! Edited August 16, 2014 by amenditman 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V.T. Eric Layton Posted August 15, 2014 Share Posted August 15, 2014 My dad invented WD-40. Er... just kidding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amenditman Posted August 15, 2014 Share Posted August 15, 2014 We all wish it was so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V.T. Eric Layton Posted August 16, 2014 Share Posted August 16, 2014 I missed being a Rockefeller by just a few genes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amenditman Posted August 16, 2014 Share Posted August 16, 2014 Fish oil and Levis maybe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LilBambi Posted August 16, 2014 Share Posted August 16, 2014 My Dad was a fixer too, a tinkerer, a hacker of the day as it were. He fixed everything for everyone that came to him with something to fix from tiny stuff to cars. He was an excellent mechanic of car engines, boat engines, etc. and I was privileged to be his helper throughout all my formative years. It wasn't till my only brother was growing up and I was nearly 16 that my Mother told me it was my brother's turn now with my Dad. My Dad always said, if you put your mind to something, you can do anything. And he always did, so I didn't see why that wouldn't be true for me as well growing up. He also built things from wood, metal or anything else he could think if. LOL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cluttermagnet Posted August 17, 2014 Share Posted August 17, 2014 I'm amazed I've come as far as I have... because my father was totally NOT mechanically inclined. He had a good mind, though... And I turned out to be a hardware guy and very observant and detail- oriented. Like to build and disassemble. Curious... But I never had transmitted to me all that male- bonding sports stuff, never learned internal combustion engines when young, etc. Playing catch up in that department... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LilBambi Posted August 17, 2014 Share Posted August 17, 2014 It is not all your Dad, or your Mom though, sometimes it is a combo of both or a throwback. For me, both my parents had a will and/or desire to do things and they had a lot of will and/or desire. So I got it from both sides. I definitely got mechanical reasoning from my Dad. I just wish I had gotten his math genius as well! I do well enough in math but it is not my strong suit like it was with my Dad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V.T. Eric Layton Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 (edited) Actually, now that you mention that... my mom was a Florida cracker girl who grew up on a farm in Central Florida during the depression. She was skilled with most hand tools and some power tools. She was a moderately good fixer, too. Edited August 18, 2014 by V.T. Eric Layton 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LilBambi Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 Yep, there ya go! Sometimes we just have to think about it a minute. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
securitybreach Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 Hey Eric, what does 13 of 31 mean? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V.T. Eric Layton Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 (edited) It's my ID within the sub-group in the Google Borg collective. Edited August 18, 2014 by V.T. Eric Layton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
securitybreach Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 Thought there were more than 31 subgroups... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V.T. Eric Layton Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 I'm sure there are. I'm just a lowly member (the 13th) of the 31st sub-group. I think the 37th sub-group is currently attempting to assimilate Cluttermagnet. Resistance is futile. He'll be one with the collective soon... Clutterborg 14 of 37. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LilBambi Posted August 19, 2014 Share Posted August 19, 2014 Ah, the inverse... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V.T. Eric Layton Posted August 19, 2014 Share Posted August 19, 2014 Reverse, you mean? Inverse would be 1/13. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LilBambi Posted August 19, 2014 Share Posted August 19, 2014 Not exactly. in·verse adjective 1. opposite or contrary in position, direction, order, or effect. "the well-observed inverse relationship between disability and social contact noun 1. something that is the opposite or reverse of something else. "his approach is the inverse of most research" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hedon James Posted August 19, 2014 Share Posted August 19, 2014 The first rule of the Borg Collective, is that we do not TALK about the Borg Collective. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V.T. Eric Layton Posted August 19, 2014 Share Posted August 19, 2014 What Borg Collective? Bambiborg has access to the collective dictionary files, it seems. I got my inverses confused with my reciprocals. Corrupted data in the network resulted in slight malfunction of this unit's sub-processor. The error has been detected and eliminated. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hedon James Posted August 19, 2014 Share Posted August 19, 2014 bwahaha! SLEEP...defrag, and reboot! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capt.Crow Posted August 19, 2014 Share Posted August 19, 2014 AND don't forget ,Say nothing until you hear more and then say nothing at all at all. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V.T. Eric Layton Posted August 19, 2014 Share Posted August 19, 2014 The Dark Lord says, 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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